I’d love to get some feedback on this small layout I’m building. This is my first layout, although I’ve been reading MR since 1988. I know that a 4x8 isn’t an efficient layout design, and my long term plan is to put an ‘around the walls’ layout in a 16x18’ area of my finished basement. Since this is my first attempt, I wanted to create something that is portable for my practice.
Track is Atlas Code 55. Mainline has #7 turnouts and all others are #5. I pinned this in place and decided to wait a week or so to make sure I still like it before putting down foam and caulk. The branch line in the top-right will go up a slight grade before arriving at an industry, and is as sharp as 11" radius. All other track is a minimum of 17.5" radius, with the outer loop being 18.75" radius. The large open area in bottom-right will be a lake.
I haven’t decided entirely on a layout theme, and once trains are running I’m creating the scenery with my wife, so some of it will come down to her overall preference. As it’s my first layout, I feel that it makes sense for me to experiment with different things instead of modelling one specific prototype exactly. I have a feeling that we’ll settle on running Milwaukee Road/CNW/UP mostly, but also some PRR.
Layout is NCE DCC, turnouts are Caboose Industries 224S ground throws.
I’d love to get opinions from some of the model railroad professionals and gurus on this forum about the track plan! Any tips to make it more enjoyable/efficient? Thanks in advance for all your ideas.
I think you have a good start. A 4’x8’ is not nearly as limiting in N as it is in HO, but yes, an around the walls will add even more possibilities. Using a scenic divider gives you places for the trains to go out of sight, it really helps on my little 4’x6’ HO layout. You also have multiple sidings for more than one industry on each side. With the divider you can have complementary industries, sawmill/lumber yard, feed mill/grain store, etc, as well as ones served by off layout vendors.
I’m no track planning guru, but you might want to think of a spur to use as in interchange track with the outside world. I’ll leave more technical track planning comments to those better versed in such thing.
I would strongly suggest going down to a single track main and give some reason for the spurs to be there. It’s impossible to critique a layout design with just random trackage. Do you have a plan for this or are you just going to make it up as you go? I’m not trying to be a downer but there are only 2 techniques to layout building…having a plan and having no plan. I’d love to see what you are going after as it looks as though you are looking for operations and running at the same time.
On the left side, move the bottom (towards the camera) track so it comes off that siding - then the siding can server as an arrival/departure track for the yard, and the switcher can wait on that tail and go in and grab the cars to classify them on your 3 tracks there.
On the right side - see if you can rework things to not have that switchback. It might LOOK interesting at first, but it was something to usually be avoided since if you put an industry on the tail of it, you’ll be boxed in and not able to then come out the long wavy track to switch cars there.
And another set of crossovers on the right would make everything more flexible.
The squiggly spur off the switchback might prove troublesome. I suppose there might be a reason for it in your plans, but if it were mine I think I’d try to eliminated some of the curvature.